Condenser-tube-sheet cleaner



June s, 19:24.v n 1,496,512

F. A. BANCEL GONDENSER TUBE SHEQET CLEANER Filed May 25, 1923 Patented ,lune 3, lQZd.

PAUL A. BANCEL, OF NUTLEY, NEV JERSEY, ASSIGNOB/ TO'INGERSOLL-RAND COM- PANY, OF JERSEY CITY. NEX/V JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY.

coNDENsER-'TUBELSHEET CLEANER.

AppL'cation filed May 25, 1323. Serial No. 641,307.

T 0 all fro/10m t may coment." Y

Be it known that I, PAUL A. BANGEL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Nutley, county of `Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented a certain Condenser- Tube-Sheet Cleaner, of which the following is a specilication, accompanied by drawings.

rlhis invention relates to cleaning devices an'dmore particularly to a device of this kind applicable to condensers, boilers, or other apparatus having a tube sheet forming the terminus for a plurality j of tubes through which water or any other medium is adapted to How for cooling or other purposes.

"The tube sheets and tubes of a surface condenser or vsimilar vessel in which water or any other medium circulates require frequent cleaning to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into the tubes, or the clogging of the tube'entrances at the tube sheet by iiotsam carried in with the water. `The ordinary practice of cleaning the tube entrances in the tube sheet consists in removing the water box or other enclosing 4part of the apparatus and exposing the tube sheet and ends of the tubes so that they may be attacked individually.

The objects of the present invention are ton efficiently and 'expeditiously remove foreign matter tending to clog the entrances to the tubes of a condenser, boiler or other tubed structure, without removing any of the parts of the apparatus, enabling the cleaning device to be formed as a compact, easily assembled or disassembled integral part of the condenser or other apparatus to which it may be applied, the device being permanently installed within an enclosed-portion of the apparatus, such, for instance, as within the water box of a surfacecondenser.

AA further object'is to effect the adjustment and'operation of a cleaning'devicevinV stalled as set forth by means located exterior'of the apparatus.

Still further objects will hereinafter appear and to the ends set 'forth the invention consists in the 'features of construction and combinations of parts described and claimed at the in the following specification and shown on the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

One preferred practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the annexed drawings, in which Figure l is an end view partly in section of a portion of a surface condenser showing the cleaning devicein dilerent adjusted positions, andv also the means for effecting the adjustment and operation of the device;`

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l showing Vthejcleaning device in operative position; and

Figure 3 is a detail, top plan'view of the movable element of the cleaning device.

`I have illustrated in the drawings one end of a vessel, specifically shown as aZ surface condenser, the cylindrical shell A of which is closed at the ends by tube sheets B, only one of the tube sheets beingl shown herein. Between the tube sheets B extend a plurality of rows, or a nest, of tubes C, which may be arranged in any desired order or relationship and have their entrances and exits substantiallyA flush with the face of the tube sheet. The tubes may, however, be provided with inlet ferrules which project beyond the face ofthe tube sheet, providing that the ends vof the ferrules are parallel. A water box or chamber D forming a part of the water circulating system of the condenser is bolted or otherwise securedto the shell A so that it surrounds theentrance ends ofthe tubes. The water box may be constructed with a plurality of sections or compartments E, F andG, separated by partitions H. The above represents a conventional showing of a device of this kind.

In its essential characteristics the invention includes, in the preferred form herein shown and described, one or more tube cleaning devices J located within the compartments E and F of the water box D. The cleaning devices J are adjustably mounted on one or a plurality of spindles K adapted to be rrotated by suitable means to effect rectilinear movement of the cleaning devices J, andare designed to operate with a scraping action across the entrance ends of the tubes C to'remove vthe foreign matter from the tube entrances. l

In the present instance the spindles K are providedV with screw threaded yportions L which extend through the chambers E and F. The inner non-threaded ends of the spindles are trunnioned in supports O', as shown at P, and these supports O are pref erably bolted to the outside of the shell A and extend through the shell. The outer non-threaded endsfQ are supported in any suitable manner, as by means of glands R,

secured in the opposite Wall of the shell A and are provided with packing S to prevent escape of liquid around the non-threaded portions Q, of the spindles K. Suitable external means are preferably provided for eecting rotation of the spindles K to actuate the cleaning devices, and in this instance I have shown hand Wheels T secured on the projecting non-threaded portions Q. The spindles K may be rotated-separately, as shown herein, or their operation may be coordinated by any desired manual or mechanically' operated means.

The cleaning device proper comprises a feed block U threaded on the spindle portion L, and an elongated scraper V, preferably formed integrally With the block U. The scraper V is grooved longitudinally as seen at lV and a blade X is adapted to be removably secured in the groove VV so that it may pass over the entrances Z of the tubes C, in contact with the inlet ends of the tubes or With the face of the tube sheet B.

Suitable guiding means are preferably provided for maintaining the Scrapers in intimate engagement with the tube ends and in proper alignment in their travel across the Water chamber, and in this instance arms a extend from the blocks U in a plane atV right angles to thev scrapers V. Rollers b, trunnioned in the forked ends 0 of the arms a, are adapted to traverse the Wall of the Water chamber opposite the tube sheet so that the cleaning devices 4are guided at both sides of the chamber, as Well as on the spindle. Suitable reinforcing ribs l may be formed at opposite sides of the arms a. The Scrapers V are preferably of a length equal to the'height ofthe tubes Which lead from the compartments of the Water boX in which the cleaning Adevices are respectively located. so that all the rovvs of tubes in the compartments may be engaged by the scraper-s in their transverse movement across the chamber.

y The condenser tube entrances are kept clean by occasional manipulation of the handles Tf, to rotate the spindles first in one direction until the Scrapers have traveled to one end of the condenser Water chamber and then in the opposite direction. Any accumulation of foreign matter at the tube entrances is thus prevented, and any matter which has adhered to the tube ysheet is quickly dislodged so that a free and unimpeded flow of the circulating liquid is obtained at all times'. The large piecesof foreign matter will be moved to the ends of the Water chambers at the sides of the condenser shell, and suitable receptacles or covered openings may be provided in the condenser shell through which any considerable accumulation of matter may be removed, or the Water boX may be laid open by removal of the outer Wall in the usual manner. The cleaning device is designed to operate equally satisfactorily Whether the tube entrances are flush with the face of the tube sheet as shown herein, or Whether the inlet ends of the tubes are provided with ferrules which project beyond the face of the tube sheet. The essence of the invention resides in the feat-ure that the Scrapers contact with the inlet ends of the tubes.

l claim:

l. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle having a screwY threaded portion, a. cleaning device threaded on said spindle, guiding means for the cleaning device and means adapted to rotate the spindle to effect rectilinear movement of the cleaning device across and in contact With the ends of the tubes to be cleaned for removing foreign matter tending to impede the flow of iiuid into the tubes.

2. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle having a screw threaded portion, a cleaning device including a feed block threaded on said spindle and a scraper on said feed block, said scraper having a blade, guiding means for the cleaning device and manually operated means adapted to rotate the spindle to effect rectilinear movement of the cleaning device across and in contact with the ends of the tubes to be cleaned for removing foreign matter tending to impede the flow of fluid into the tubes.

3. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle having a screiv threaded portion, a cleaning device including a feed block threaded on said spindle and a scraper on said feed block, a guiding roller on said cleaning device, and manually operated means for rotating the spindle to effect rectilinear movement of the cleaning device across the ends of the tubes to be cleaned Jfor removing foreign matter tending to clog the tube entrances.

4. A tube cleaner comprising a spindle having a screw threaded portion, a feed block threaded on said spindle, and a scraper on said block, said scraper including a removable scraper blade, a guiding roller on said feed block, packing around the nonthreaded portion of the spindle and manually operated means for rotating the spindle to effect rectilinear movement 0f the scraper across the ends of the tubes to be cleaned for removing foreign matter tending to clog the tube entrances.

' In testimony whereof l have signed this specification.

PAUL RANGEL. 

